Haworthia x aloe hybrid plant named &#39;AMIHAW1613&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Haworthia limifolia  x  Aloe vera  hybrid plant named ‘AMIHAW1613’, which is characterized by spirally-arranged succulent foliage which exhibits a star shape when viewed from above, long ovate foliage with small teeth along the length of the margins, and light greyed-green foliage with lighter greyed-green orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Haworthia limifolia x Aloe vera.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Haworthia x Aloe hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIHAW1613’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIHAW1613’ is an intergeneric hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Haworthia limifolia plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Aloe vera plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the summer of 2015, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics. After confirming the stability of the unique characteristics first observed, the new plant was selected for commercialization and given the name, ‘AMIHAW1613’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1613’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2016 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through three subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIHAW1613’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIHAW1613’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIHAW1613’ as a new and distinct Haworthia x Aloe hybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIHAW1613’ exhibits spirally-arranged succulent foliage in         a basal rosette which exhibits a star shape when viewed from         above; and     -   2. ‘AMIHAW1613’ exhibits long ovate foliage with an apiculate         apex; and     -   3. ‘AMIHAW1613’ exhibits foliage with small teeth along the         length of the margins; and     -   4. ‘AMIHAW1613’ exhibits light greyed-green foliage with lighter         greyed-green orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular         transverse rows across the upper and lower leaf surfaces; and     -   5. ‘AMIHAW1613’ exhibits spiny protuberances along the midrib of         the lower leaf, particularly towards the apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIHAW1613’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIHAW1613.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIHAW1613’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIHAW1613’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2017 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 months old ‘AMIHAW1613’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe and Haworthia plants which consisted of minimal subsurface irrigation and minimal fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug, Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIHAW1613’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIHAW1613’ and a comparison with the parents and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular; star-shaped when viewed             from above.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—11.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 18.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 28 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop             time — Approximately 25 to 30 weeks to produce a marketable             plant in a 12 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe and Haworthia             pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low             tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally arranged in a rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—39 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Ovate succulent foliage.         -   Dimensions.—9.2 cm long, 3.7 cm wide, and 1.2 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Very slightly concaved and very slightly curled             upward.         -   Attitude.—Upward to slightly outward.         -   Apex.—Apiculate, with a soft mucronate tip.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of             0.075 cm and are colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D.             Margins are not undulated or lobed.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately covered             with orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular             transverse rows across the leaf surface; protuberances are             approximately 3.0 mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with             orbicular protuberances arranged in irregular transverse             rows across the leaf surface; protuberances grown into soft,             short spines towards the apex, approximately 5.0 mm high and             1.0 mm in diameter.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Matte.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 191A; fading lighter towards the base,             nearest to RHS 193A; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS             189A; protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS             192C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 191B; fading lighter towards the base,             nearest to RHS 193A; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS             189A; protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS             192C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 189A and 191B; fading lighter             towards the base, nearest to RHS 194B; protuberances are             colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 192B and             192C. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 190A and 191B; fading lighter             towards the base, nearest to RHS 192A; slightly darker             towards the apex, nearest to RHS 191A; protuberances are             colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 192B and             192C.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.

INFLORESCENCE

No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1613’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed Haworthia limifolia (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Haworthia limifolia Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1613’ seed parent Foliage length. Longer than the parent. Shorter than ‘AMIHAW1613’. Foliage attitude. Upward to slightly Relaxed to somewhat outward. upright. General coloration Light greyed-green. Dark green. of the mature foliage. Leaf protuberances. Orbicular Conspicuous transverse protuberances linear protuberances arranged in irregular presenting as raised ribs transverse rows. across the leaf surface.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1613’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed Aloe vera plant (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1613’ Aloe vera pollen parent General coloration Light greyed-green. Dark green. of the mature foliage. Leaf length. Shorter than the parent. Longer than ‘AMIHAW1613’. Leaf strength. Stronger than parent. Weaker than ‘AMIHAW1613’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIHAW1613’ differ from the closest known commercial comparator, the common form of the species Aloe humilis (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIHAW1613’ Aloe humilis General coloration Light greyed-green. Green to blue-green. of the mature foliage. Leaf width. Broader than Narrower than Aloe humilis. ‘AMIHAW1613’. Foliage margins. Finely dentate with Dentate with fewer an abundance but larger teeth. smaller teeth. Leaf protuberances. Orbicular Sparsely covered protuberances with conspicuous arranged in irregular spiny transverse rows. protuberances. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Haworthia x Aloe hybrid plant named ‘AMIHAW1613’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 